18th Century Qing Dynasty Vase Found in Shoebox in France Sold for $18.8 Million at Sotheby’s Auction in Paris

18th Century Qing Dynasty Vase Found in Shoebox in France Sold for $18.8 Million at Sotheby’s Auction in Paris

A 18th century Qing dynasty (China BC) vase found in a shoebox in an attic had been sold for $18.8 million (EUR 16.18 million) at a Sotheby’s auction in Paris.

“18th Century Qing Dynasty Vase Found in Shoebox in France Sold for $18.8 Million at Sotheby’s Auction in Paris”

The $18.8 million vase was discovered by chance in the attic of a French family home, by its unsuspecting owners in a shoebox. The 18th Qing dynasty vase had been left to the great-grandparents of the present owners (5th generation inheritance) by an uncle after he passed away in 1947. The vase was brought to Sotheby’s Paris, where further research revealed it to be a unique treasure bearing the mark of the Qianlong Emperor, who ruled China from 1735 to 1795.

The vase, a Magnificent Imperial ‘Yangcai Crane and Deer Ruyi Vase’, was offered at the Sotheby’s auction on the 12th June 2018 in Paris with an estimated price range of $580,000 to $813,000 (EUR 500,000 to EUR 700,000). The $18.8 million winning bid was more than 20 times Sotheby’s estimated price range. The buyer was reported to be an Asian.

The Qing dynasty is the imperial dynasty of 268 years in China from 1644 to 1912. Emperor Qianlong (1711-1799, 87 years) was the 6th emperor of the Qing dynasty. He became the emperor at the age of 24 from 1735 to 1795, a period of 60 years. He was known as a capable and cultured ruler and ruled one of China’s most prosperous era in history.